To mark the end of Mother of All Solutions, this episode is a conversation with two great friends and previous guests of the podcast, Lily Anderson-Nicholls and Kate Burt. Lily is an HR Professional and Kate a journalist - we discuss both our personal and the societal contexts for working parents today, and what's changed over the 6 years of making Mother of All Solutions. As with all good conversations with friends, it ranges from the serious to the silly! We discuss changes in workplaces and w...
Dec 20, 2024•55 min
In this episode Laura interviews Rumi Bose, urban designer and regeneration consultant. Rumi set up her own business 18 months ago after a successful career working in local authority. Whilst she was at Southwark Council she had her three boys now aged 12, 9 and 5. We discuss what motivated her to train as an urban designer (her second career) and what inspires her in this field and the types of roles she has had and is now developing herself. I am sure you will enjoy listening to Rumi and do vi...
Dec 09, 2024•49 min
In this episode host Laura Broderick speaks with co-owner of Home Grown Brixton, Gill Springer. Gill runs the cafe and catering business with chef Portia Eyeson. Both are mothers and Gill a grandmother. They are working hard to offer great food and a new community space in their home area of south London. They are using their skills and friendship to grow their community catering business. Both have had interesting careers as well as busy caring roles, so it was great to learn more from Gill whi...
Dec 01, 2024•22 min
In this Special Episode I share an interview with photographer Rachel Larsen from the Creativity Found podcast.I enjoyed listening to Rachel speak about her work and family life with host Claire Waite Brown, and am delighted to now be able to share it with listeners of Mother of All Solutions. Rachel is a writer and photographer who documents and is commissioned to take pictures of families. She talks about her career decisions to fit creativity and work around her caring responsibilities, as we...
Aug 01, 2024•34 min
Hello and Happy Father's Day! For this special episode I talk with my manager and three of my colleagues who are all dads. We discuss hybrid working, sharing the juggle with your partner, being vocal about your role and life as a dad and more! We also just have some nice chats about our kids. I hope you enjoy the episode and it's useful to see how a group of colleagues can support each other through the highs and lows of parenting. Thank you for listening - and please do rate, review and share i...
Jun 15, 2024•42 min
In this special episode of Mother of All Solutions, recorded at The Podcast Show 2024 London / Shure stand, we have guest Samantha Baines - actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and "new mum". Sam shares her career choices, chats about her podcast The Divorce Social, and talks about living with hearing loss and writing books based on her experiences of being deaf. She shares information on her pregnancy and early motherhood, as well as next steps now she's back at work and acting again. It was gr...
Jun 03, 2024•44 min
For this final episode of the Spring 2024 mini-series of Mother of All Solutions, I am pleased to share an interview with Donna Bloye (winner) and Steven Broughton (semi-finalist) from series seven of the Great Pottery Throwdown. Fans of the series will have enjoyed watching them on screen and like me picked up a strong sense of their love for pottery and ceramics, but also their role as parents. Donna is mum to three children and Steven is dad to one daughter. I wanted to talk to them together ...
Apr 14, 2024•40 min
This episode was recorded at the Mothers in Music all-day festival on 7 March 2024 at the Mount Without venue in Bristol. Organised by Alice Ballantine Dykes of Mama Coaching, with a team of producers (mothers and musicians) - “a collective of mothers challenging norms to stay visible, valued and celebrated in the music industry.” The event included wonderful performances, along with discussions about the challenges and ways for mothers to keep performing and thriving in their musical careers. I...
Apr 08, 2024•42 min
In this episode I talk with Harriet Williams, Deputy Leader of the Women's Equality Party (WEP). I initially interviewed Harriet back in the beginning of making Mother of All Solutions podcast when Harriet worked as a 'Young Parent Consultant'. She still works in many roles and in this episode mentioned supporting: Care experienced parents: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/research/care-experienced-parents-unite-change Single parents: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/ In this episode, we specifically ...
Mar 25, 2024•27 min
It was a pleasure to speak about momfluencer culture with writer and podcaster Sara Petersen. Author of the book Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture, Sara shared lots of insights into the moms and mums of social media. It was fascinating to hear more and also reflect on mumfluencer culture in the UK, and our relationships with influencers and sharing online in general. Plus, what is the British equivalent of the family pumpkin patch outing?! To le...
Mar 17, 2024•40 min
This first episode of the new series of Mother of All Solutions is an interview with Katy Marks - architect and designer. Katy talks about her career as an architect, establishing her own business and navigating maternity leave and work. She then shares about her experience of going through a single mastectomy and later designing the Unobra for asymmetric bodies. It was a pleasure to learn more about Katy and aspects of her life and work. You can connect with her: Architectural practice via Citi...
Mar 10, 2024•31 min
I am delighted to announce a new mini-series for Mother of All Solutions. This teaser contains clips from interviews with some of the amazing mothers who joined me for the podcast. Full episodes will follow on Mondays through March/April, and I am excited to share many perspectives on parenting and work over the course of the season. I hope you enjoy listening! #mothersday #internationalwomensday MOAS is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. Portrait photo by Jannine ...
Mar 03, 2024•5 min
Hello! It's almost the holidays so this episode is a short n sweet end to the Mother of All Solutions podcast in 2023. Featuring guest contributions from Suze Cooper, Vivi Koroma Kala and Molly Rowan, plus my mum and my daughter, there is chat about podcasts and books (my favourite things) plus a poem and a song. I really hope you enjoy it and it makes you feel festive in a friendly podcasty way. Thank you for listening this year, and do listen out for more MOAS episodes in 2024 - likely March -...
Dec 21, 2023•15 min
For this episode Laura interviews photographer Jannine Newman, who has adult sons and came to use the term ‘photographer’ professionally in her 50s. We discuss her work and ambitions through the decades, and how being a mum has influenced her career moves. We also talk about looking after kids through their stages, parenting twins, ADHD in the family and more. Jannine explains the term skill stacking and why she believes it's important to maximise your niche set of skills and experiences. She is...
Dec 03, 2023•37 min
In this episode, timed with International Men’s Day 2023, Laura shares clips from a recording with dad-of-two Steve Folland, Being Freelance and Doing It For The Kids (DIFTK) podcast. Laura and Steve spoke earlier this year as part of the DIFTK community meet up. It was a great conversation but there was a lot of chat I couldn’t squeeze into that episode - so here are some clips in this mini bonus one! Steve shares his journey from starting as a freelancer when his kids were very young, to them ...
Nov 13, 2023•14 min
A year ago I participated in Pregnant Then Screwed's event, The March of the Mummies, and recorded with parents on the march in Newcastle. As it's been Halloween this week and there is a lot in this episode that is still relevant at the one year anniversary point I thought I would re-release it. If you listened previously - thank you. If you missed the episode first time, I hope you enjoy it now. And please do share it if you can. Happy listening, Laura (mummy, host and producer) Do also keep in...
Nov 02, 2023•25 min
In this episode Laura speaks with Rosa Schling, Co-Director of oral history production company On The Record and project manager of the Grow Your Own project, to discuss the project and the podcast series Childcare Voices. The episode was recorded at the Bishopsgate Institute in London during a childcare archive workshop day. Also on mic are participants involved in helping map the history of childcare in London - they share what they discover through looking at archives about settings and actio...
Oct 22, 2023•29 min
It was a pleasure to chat to comedian and writer Eleri Morgan about her work doing stand up and comedy writing, now as mother to an 8 month old baby. We discuss taking her son to gigs, being part of writing rooms and how to navigate work around childcare going forward. We also discuss her documentary ‘DRYCH: Dyfodol i Dewi’ (on iPlayer for a few more days!) which follows her struggle to reconcile having a baby with leading a low-carbon life. And we chat about her plans for future documentaries o...
Oct 02, 2023•44 min
It's back to school, and a new term for MOAS too, starting with quarter-finalist Lauren Tedstone and semi-finalist Vicki Reid from the Great British Sewing Bee 2023 #sewingbee #gbsb #greatbritishsewingbee Both mums of two young children, we discuss their careers before entering the Sewing Bee, plus their work, family and sewing lives now. It was great to chat to these enthusiastic and talented sewists about hobbies, community and of course their friendship (formed over a cuppa.) So make a brew a...
Sep 04, 2023•50 min
I am delighted to share this episode from the Creativity Found podcast… Claire Waite Brown interviews Caro Giles, author of Twelve Moons. I loved this conversation and love Caro’s book, which outlines her life as a single mother of four daughters living in rural Northumberland. There is family, nature, isolation, rediscovery - it’s practical and emotional. I hope you enjoy Claire’s interview about Caro’s life and work, here on my podcast feed. To connect with them both: https://www.creativityfou...
Aug 21, 2023•39 min
Ready for new Mother of All Solutions episodes from September 2023? New to the podcast? Well, take a listen to the trailer! Mother of All Solutions - conversations about careers and caring for today's parents. So whether you are a parent, an employer or you just love a good chat/interview style listen then MOAS is made with you in mind. The podcast is hosted and produced by Laura Broderick, with music by Ros Fraser. Listen to MOAS wherever you get your pods - and do subscribe, stay in touch (@So...
Aug 19, 2023•2 min
In the final episode of Mother of All Solutions before a summer break, Laura speaks with Becky Lamb-Pritchard, Head of Marketing at This is Distorted, and Lucy Critchley Head of Untold Creative. https://www.thisisdistorted.com/ https://untold-creative.com/ We discuss marketing roles and workplace cultures and settings. We share stories of life with 3 year olds, and plans for the future. It's both serious and fun - and we cover LOTS. Both Becky and Lucy have made significant location and career m...
Jun 29, 2023•51 min
Hannah Russell, Co-founder of Mags Creative podcast business is the guest on this episode of Mother of All Solutions. Hannah is mum to a 3 year old, and her second child is due in a few months time. Hannah and Laura talk business and parenting - the highs, lows and parallels. We discuss the rollercoaster of founding a company (Mags recently turned 5!) and being a mother, boundaries in both professional and family life, and being fully present with your work and kids. Mother of All Solutions is h...
Jun 16, 2023•36 min
For this recording, host Laura Broderick speaks with Lauren Ingram, Founder of Women of Web3, a community helping women around the world make the leap into the exciting new world of Web3. We discuss Web3 - what it is, and what Lauren is doing to support women learn more about its potential. We then talk about Lauren’s pivot and career shift during her pregnancy and various aspects of life as a ‘working mum’ and business founder/entrepreneur. Lauren is also the host of the Women of Web3 podcast, ...
Jun 02, 2023•31 min
In this episode Laura interviews Katie Carr - author, business coach, mum and kayaker. Katie is currently on a huge adventure to plan and kayak the remaining areas of the shipping forecast that her late brother, Toby Carr, wasn’t able to complete. Katie finished the book 'Moderate Becoming Good Later - Sea Kayaking the Shipping Forecast' earlier this year - this is the book Toby hoped he would have had time to complete. Toby captured his adventures in recordings, photos, notes and videos - all o...
May 23, 2023•41 min
For this episode, Laura recorded with members of the Doing It For The Kids (DIFTK) community - a platform and podcast for freelance parents trying to make flexible working work. Joining their London meet-up on 27 April 2023, Laura had a chance to chat with various members about what makes the community so special. It was a real pleasure. I also had some pre-chats and the result is hopefully a good overview of how the community operates - the people and purpose. I do hope you enjoy it. Thank you ...
May 06, 2023•33 min
In this special episode for the Women of the World Festival (WOW) London, host Laura Broderick speaks with parents and panellists at the Southbank Centre on Saturday 11 March 2023. https://thewowfoundation.com The topic is childcare – lived experiences of using, accessing and affording it. Following the WOW panel discussion, The Case for Free Childcare, Laura caught up with Catherine Mayer (Co-founder of Primadonna Festival) and Hannah Peaker (Women’s Equality Party Chief of Staff.) I hope you e...
Mar 17, 2023•33 min
In the final episode of 2022, Laura interviews Jessica Moxham, the author of The Cracks That Let The Light In - a mother's story of raising her disabled son and the life-changing power of books. Jess discusses sections of her memoir, particularly around maternity leave and going back to work as an architect after having Ben, and then her later decisions and starting to write once Ben's siblings were born. It's a fascinating book, with lots to learn about Jess's family and disability. You can fin...
Dec 19, 2022•40 min
In this episode, Laura starts her visit to the Mother House Studios in Catford in SE London, with a conversation with Dyana Gravina, founder of the Procreate Project. https://www.procreateproject.com/ Laura then talks with 3 artists who use Motherhouse Studio and the co-director of this unique space with integrated childcare. https://www.motherhousestudios.com/ I hope you enjoy learning more about this special model of work and care, and hearing from the artist parents who use the space. Mother ...
Dec 09, 2022•38 min
In this episode Laura interviews audio producer and Creative Director of Inkslingers Media, Leona Fensome. We talk about her varied career and interests, including running an independent production company with a focus on oral histories. We discuss her work in journalism, then community radio and her current role supporting creative industries at University of Bedfordshire. We also share thoughts on the arts, heritage, creativity and parenting! To find out more about Leona please visit: https://...
Dec 01, 2022•36 min
